Bernard Cribbins is a British comedian and actor best known for his stage work, novelty records and voice work on such animated series as The Wombles.
Biography
Interested in acting early on, and at the age of 14, he became a student at the Oldham Repertory Theatre. He left for a brief stint in the Parachute Regiment of the British Army, but he returned immediately upon his release.
By his mid-20s, he was a major star in English theater. Nearly a decade later, he found success in British films such as The World of Suzie Wong and Carry On Jack. He also cut several hit novelty records, including a single called "Right Said Fred," about workmen moving a piano, which charted in the UK and decades later inspired the band of the same name. By the end of the 1960s and into the '70s, he was finding regular work in films, stage and TV and on animated series and commercials.
He continues to work and be active in film and TV. He is now best known for his work as a narrator and character voices in multiple children's series. He lives with his longtime wife Gillian.
Roles
Starring Roles
Guest Starring Roles
| Series
|
Role
|
Episode
|
Airdate
|
| The Vise |
Driver |
5x05 - The Missing Hours |
October 11, 1957
|
| Interpol Calling |
Sid |
1x29 - Slow Boat to Amsterdam |
March 27, 1960
|
| International Detective |
Pasquale |
1x23 - The Santino Case |
May 29, 1960
|
| The Troubleshooters |
Chas Wilson |
1x12 - Driver of the Year |
September 22, 1965
|
| The Avengers |
Arkwright |
4x17 - The Girl from Auntie |
January 21, 1966
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x80 - Harlequinade/Black Beard the Pirate |
December 27, 1966
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x81 - Cinderella, or The Little Glass Slipper |
December 28, 1966
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x82 - Black-Eyed Susan: A Tale of the Sea |
December 29, 1966
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x83 - Aladdin, or The Wonderful Lamp |
December 30, 1966
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x174 - The Spider's Palace |
May 29, 1967
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x175 - The Dark Child |
May 30, 1967
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x176 - Living in W'ales |
May 31, 1967
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x177 - The Magic Glass |
June 1, 1967
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
2x178 - The Invitation |
June 2, 1967
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
3x139 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Golden Tickets (1) |
February 5, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
3x140 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Fudgemallow Delight (2) |
February 6, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
3x141 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: The Chocolate Room (3) |
February 7, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
3x142 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A Shock for Veruca and Violet (4) |
February 8, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
3x143 - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: A Surprise for Charlie (5) |
February 9, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
5x01 - James and the Giant Peach: The Mysterious Peach (1) |
September 30, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
5x02 - James and the Giant Peach: Strange Creatures (2) |
October 1, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
5x03 - James and the Giant Peach: Danger - Sharks! (3) |
October 2, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
5x04 - James and the Giant Peach: Adventures in the Air (4) |
October 3, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
5x05 - James and the Giant Peach: Down to Earth (5) |
October 4, 1968
|
| The Avengers |
Bradley Mahler |
7x11 - Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers... |
December 4, 1968
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x85 - The Wizard of Oz: The Journey Begins (1) |
January 12, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x86 - The Wizard of Oz: The Field of Poppies (2) |
January 13, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x87 - The Wizard of Oz: The Emerald City (3) |
January 14, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x88 - The Wizard of Oz: The Winged Monkeys (4) |
January 15, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x89 - The Wizard of Oz: Wishes Granted (5) |
January 16, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller, "The Evil Magician" |
7x131 - The 1000th Jackanory Programme |
March 17, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x135 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Down the Rabbit Hole (1) |
March 23, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x136 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The Pool of Tears/A Caucus Race and a Long Tale (2) |
March 24, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x137 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill/Advice from a Caterpillar/Pig and Pepper (3) |
March 25, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x138 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: A Mad Tea Party/The Queen's Croquet Ground (4) |
March 26, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
7x139 - Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Who Stole the Tarts?/Alice's Evidence (5) |
March 27, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
9x66 - Alice Through the Looking-Glass: Looking-Glass House (1) |
December 7, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
9x67 - Alice Through the Looking-Glass: Tweedledum and Tweedledee (2) |
December 8, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
9x68 - Alice Through the Looking-Glass: Humpty Dumpty (3) |
December 9, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
9x69 - Alice Through the Looking-Glass: The Lion and the Unicorn (4) |
December 10, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
9x70 - Alice Through the Looking-Glass: Queen Alice (5) |
December 11, 1970
|
| Jackanory |
Reader |
01/01/74 - The Bread Bin |
January 1, 1974
|
| Fawlty Towers |
Mr. Hutchinson |
1x04 - Hotel Inspectors |
October 10, 1975
|
| Space: 1999 |
Captain Michael |
2x05 - Brian the Brain |
October 1, 1976
|
| Jackanory |
Bilbo Baggins |
01/01/79 - The Hobbit |
January 1, 1979
|
| Tales of the Unexpected |
Charlie Krebs/Mr. King |
6x02 - The Memory Man |
April 16, 1983
|
| Jackanory |
Storyteller |
01/01/91 - Arabel's Tree House |
January 1, 1991
|
| I, Lovett |
Snowman |
1x01 - The Snowman |
March 24, 1993
|
| Daziel and Pascoe |
Uncle Henry |
4x03 - Time to Go |
June 26, 1999
|
| The Canterbury Tales |
Carpenter |
2x01 - The Journey Back |
October 18, 2000
|
| Last of the Summer Wine |
Gavin Hinchcliffe |
24x06 - In Which Gavin Hinchcliffe Loses the Gulf Stream |
February 2, 2003
|
| Barbara |
Frank |
4x03 - Guy Fawkes |
March 9, 2003
|
| Down to Earth |
Frank Cosgrove |
5x08 - Hot Air |
February 20, 2005
|
| Down to Earth |
Frank Cosgrove |
5x09 - Tall Tales |
February 27, 2005
|
Specials and Made-for-TV Movies
| Title
|
Role
|
Airdate
|
Series/Banner
|
| The Night of the Big Heat |
Cpl. Pearce |
June 14, 1960 |
|
| Visiting Day |
Cakebread |
February 2, 1962 |
Comedy Playhouse
|
| Impasse |
Mr. Spooner |
March 15, 1963 |
Comedy Playhouse
|
| Here I Come Whoever I Am |
Ambrose Twombly |
June 11, 1965 |
Comedy Playhouse
|
| Judgement Day for Elijah Jones |
Arnold |
June 7, 1966 |
Comedy Playhouse
|
| It's Your Move |
Neighbour |
October 18, 1982 |
|
| What's a Carry On? |
Himself |
December 29, 1998 |
|
| I Love a 1970's Christmas |
Himself |
December 24, 2000 |
I Love
|
| The 100 Greatest Kids TV Shows |
Himself |
August 27, 2001 |
|
| The Wonderful World of Roald Dahl |
Himself |
July 24, 2005 |
|
| The 100 Greatest Family Films |
Himself |
December 22, 2005 |
|
Talk, News and Game Show Appearances
Memorable Moments
- Fawlty Towers
- 1x04 - Hotel Inspectors: Cribbins as Mr. Hutchinson has annoyed the staff at Fawlty Towers - especially Basil Fawlty - with his pretentious mannerisms and high-maintenance demands. He has even started a fistfight with Basil in the lobby. Basil has been extra-nice to him when he believed him to be a hotel inspector, then rude again when he learned he was not. When Hutchinson is leaving, Basil and Manuel send him off with a cream pie in the face and crotch and a briefcase full of cream - right in front of the real inspectors!
Awards and Accolades
- BAFTA Film Awards
- Nominated: Best Supporting Actor (1970) - The Railway Children
Trivia
- Narrated the "Tufty" British Public Information Films in the 1970s.
